NASCAR officials suspended a Team Penske crew member Monday for his role in a post-race scuffle between drivers Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway.
Dave Nichols Jr., a tire technician for Logano’s No. 22 team, was issued a one-race suspension. He was found in violation of Section 12.8.1.C: member conduct guidelines of the 2019 NASCAR Rule Book – “Correct and proper conduct, both on and off the race track, is part of a Member’s responsibilities. Member-to-Member confrontation with physical violence.”
See Also: Logano, Hamlin in Altercation
Logano confronted Hamlin about the duo making contact on track earlier in the race. After what appeared to be a civil conversation, things erupted when Logano slightly shoved Hamlin, who then went after the Team Penske driver.
From there crew members from both teams became involved and the incident escalated from there before NASCAR officials could separate everyone. During the fray video replays showed Nichols grabbing the back of Hamlin’s fire suit and pulling him to the ground.
Along with Nichols’ suspension, NASCAR also issued $10,000 fines to the respective crew chiefs of the Nos. 12, 17, 18 and 24 teams for one lug nut not safely secured in a post-race check.
